Figure toy



Dec. 13,1938. R IPIRO I 2,140,056

FIGURE TOY F iled Sept. 21, 1937 Patented Dec. 13, 1938 PATENT OFFICE FIGURE TOY Philip Joseph Piro, New Orleans, La., assignor of one-half to Alcide J. Austin, New Orleans, La.

Application September 21, 1937, Serial No. 164,977

2 Claims.

This invention relates to figure toys, and more particularly, to a toy simulating the movements of a bootblack during the operation of shining a shoe.

An object of this invention is to provide a toy which will provide amusement and which is so constructed that the operation of reciprocating a shoe shining cloth over a shoe is simulated by a figure mounted on a base structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toy of this kind with improved means whereby the shoe shining cloth may be reciprocated back and forth over a shoe, the operating means for the cloth being provided in a figure disposed in a kneeling position on a base.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several news:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a figure toy constructed to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates generally, a base structure which is provided at a suitable point thereupon with a block ll having a shoe rest I3 disposed on the upper side thereof. A figure I2 has one leg l4 thereof resting on and preferably secured to the base l9 adjacent one end of the base, and the other leg l5 of the figure l2 has the foot 5 6 thereof resting on the shoe rest I3.

A second figure, generally designated as IT, is disposed in a kneeling position on the base it in a position substantially facing the figure l 2. The figure ll represents a bootblack or boy, and the figure ii is provided with pivoted arms l8 and [9 extending on opposite sides of the upstanding block or support H. The hands and 2! of the arms l8 and i9 respectively, have secured thereto a flexible shoe shining member 22 which extends over the shoe it of the figure l2 in substantially V-shape, and the opposite ends of the flexible member 22 are secured as by rivets 23 and 24 to the hands 20 and 2| respectively.

The body 25 of the figure I1 is preferably hollow and a power means for rocking the arms 55 I8 and I9 is disposed Within the body 25. This power means comprises a frame 26 which is fixedly mounted in the body 25, and a drive shaft El is rotatably carried by the frame 26 and is provided with a key 28 which is disposed outwardly of the body 25.

A spring 25 is operatively engaged with the drive shaft 27, and a gear 39 is secured to the drive shaft 21 and meshes with a pinion 3| mounted on a shaft 32 journaled in the frame 26.

A second gear 33 is mounted on the shaft 32 and 10 meshes with a driven gear 34 carried by a crank shaft 35 which is rotatably mounted in the frame 26. The shaft 35 is provided with a crank 36 at one end and a second crank 31 at the opposite end. 15

A rock shaft 38 is rockably supported by the upper portion of the body 25 and has one end 39 thereof, fixedly secured to the arm [8 so that rocking of the shaft 38 effects rocking movement of the arm 18. A second rock shaft 40 is rockably 2 carried by the body 25 and the outer end M of the rock shaft it! is fixed to the arm IS. The rock shaft 38 is provided with an elongated loop' 42 within which the crank 35 operates, and the rock shaft 45 is provided with a similar loop 43 25 within which the bell crank 31 operates. The bell cranks 35 and 31 are preferably diametrically disposed so that upon rotation of the shaft 35, the arms l8 and 49 will be rocked in directions so as to effect a reciprocatory or back and forth 30 movement of the shoe shine cloth or flexible member 22.

In the use and operation of this toy, the flexible member 22 is loosely disposed over the shoe i6 and when the spring 29 is wound up, the gear 35 train comprising the gears 30, 3|, 33, and 34, will rotate the shaft 35, and rotation of the shaft 35 will effect rocking movement of the shafts 38 and 15 through the cranks 33 and 31 which are loosely disposed in the loops t2 and 43 respectively. Vertical rocking movement of the arms I 8 and I9 is thus effected with the arm 18 moving in a direction opposite from the arm [9 so that the cloth or strip 22 will simulate the Wiping. or polishing operation of the bootblack on the 45 shoe I5. 7

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising a base, a block secured to 55 said base, a figure secured in upstanding position on said base and having a foot resting on said block, a second figure mounted on said base in substantially a kneeling position, said second figure including a pair of vertically rockable arms disposed one on each said side of said block, a flexible foot wiping member carried by said arms and engaging over said foot, a rock shaft carried by said second figure for each of said arms, an elongated loop carried by each rock shaft, said loops being formed as integral continuations of the shafts, and motor operated crank arms with: in the second figure and each loosely engaging within one of said loops whereby to effect rocking movement thereof to thereby vertically rock said arms. a

2. In a device of the character described, a figure having a pair of arms, a motor mechanism within the figure and including a driven rotary shaft having a crank at each end, a pair of rock shafts disposed in side by side parallel relation within and across the said figure from one side to the other, each of said rock shafts extending at one end to the exterior of the figure and secured to an arm to effect oscillation of the same vertically, an elongated rectangular frame formed from and consisting of an integral lateral extension of each shaft adjacent one end thereof, said motor being between the frames and each frame having a crank disposed therein, said cranks being oppositely directed and adapted upon rotation of the driven shaft to move in said frames and swing the latter, one of said rock shafts passing through the frame of the other rock shaft, and means joined to the arms for actuation thereby upon oscillation of the arms.

PHILIP JOSEPH PIRO. I

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,1L o,o56. December 1 19 PHILIP JOSEPH PIRO.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the above num bered patentwas erroneously described and specified as "ALCIDE J. AUSTIN" whereas said name should have been described and specified as ALCIDE J. AUTIN, as shownby the record of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 51st day of January, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents 

